NBL Round 3 – Selected Fixtures and Betting Tips

The following are previews with betting tips for Round 3 of the 2021 NBL season.

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Tuesday, January 26

Brisbane Bullets vs Sydney Kings Nissan Arena 3:00pm AEDT

Brisbane’s last match saw them fall to the Hawks, 90-82, at Nissan Arena. In what was their second loss in a row this season, twice to Illawarra, they didn’t exactly put on a fine performance. The key Q for them being the second, that where they scored only 15 points and leaked 25. Some of the starters were pretty woeful with their shooting, Cadee was 2/9, Froling 2/5 and Law 6/16. And they combined for just 1/10 from deep! Ouch! Law still scored 16PTS, and had 12REB, 6AS and 1BL. That while Sobey scored 24PTS, as he hit 3 from deep. He also had 1 dime and 2ST. Drmic also scored 10PTS, along with 2REB and 1ST. Then of the bench, Johnson produced 11PTS and Harrison 8, + he also had 10 boards amongst his other stats.

Sydney got it done at the Cairns Pop Up Arena last time out, as they came away with a solid 99-91 victory over the Taipans. This was their first victory of the new season. And they closed it out in Q4, as they won 27-20. Ware produced 22PTS, as did Martin. Vasiljevic scored 13 and of the pine, Newley had 17. Ware also had 2REB and 3ST, as he hit 4 shots from behind the arc, putting to bed his horrible streak from deep. And Martin also pulled in 11REB, to go along with his 3AS and 1ST. Vasiljevic went 3/5 from deep, as he also had 2REB, 1AS and 1ST. Hunter also produced 8PTS and Bruce 7.

All up and combined, these two sides have played in four remarkably close matches this season. For Brisbane, they’ve lost by 8 and 6 points. And for Sydney, they’ve won by 8 and lost by 1. So, if that early season progression and form is anything to go off, then we should be in for a tightly contested encounter. That meaning difference will come from who performs best of the pine. For the Bullets, you’ve got Johnson as their x-factor. He a player who has played for a host of NBA franchises and most recently, New Orleans in 2016. And he scored 11 for Brisbane shooting 50% last time out. Then for the Kings, that wildcard guy is Newley. The same Newley who poured in 17PTS last match vs Cairns. He also shot 50% from the floor in that one. He’s also an experienced veteran who knows the ins and the outs of the NBL. When the match gets close and it comes to players of the bench, these two should be massive in deciding the eventual result.

Betting tips- Pick Sydney to win at $1.75 (Unibet)

Also pick them to win the 1st half at $1.87

 

Thursday, January 28

Cairns Taipans vs Illawarra Hawks Cairns Pop Up Arena 7:30pm AEDT

Cairns currently have 1 win and 2 defeats (at the time of writing), after their tight and tense 99-91 defeat to Sydney last round. That match was played at the Cairns Pop Up Arena. Q2 set them back a lil bit, as they lost that one 23-15. Which ultimately, helped the Kings with a 9-point advantage headed into HT. Oliver scored a big 27, as he also committed a ‘life-threatening’ dunk on Craig Moller late on in the match. Machado scored 14, Noi 13, Djeric 10 and Deng 9. Whilst King produced 12PTS of the bench. Oliver made a simply wild 12/22 shots, as he also had 10REB, 2AS, 2ST and 3BL! Machado had 9 dimes. And the young stud King shot 50% from the court. That as some of his other stats included 4REB, 1AS and 1BL.

The Hawks be flying highhhhhhhhh at the moment, as they are 3/3 to start the season. They’ve just been picking their opponents of for the kill lately. And in what was their second win over Brisbane this season, they proved to be victorious 90-82. That game was played out at Nissan Arena. They used Q4 as a platform to help try and push the game away from the Bullets grasp, as they won that period 25-20. Harvey was huge with 31PTS! Ogilvy also had 14, Jessup 10 and Simon 9. While of the pine, Naar had 8 and Deng 7. Harvey shot an awesome 52.4% from the floor, as he also had 2REB, 1AS and 2ST. Ogilvy shot a neat 6/9, as he also had 9REB, 4AS, 1ST and 1BL. And some of Jessup’s other stats included 6REB, 6AS and 1ST.

With the form the Hawks are in at the moment, it’s almost impossible to see them not beating Cairns in this one. Even if they are playing away from home. And Justin Simon, Justinian Jessup and Tyler Harvey are 3 big reasons why! They have breathed new life into this once stuttering and stumbling Hawks team. Now they’re on fire! Jessup got 10 points and 6 boards last game. Prior to that it was 24 and 4, along with 3 steals. Simon had 9 and 9 last game, along with 2 dimes. And Harvey obviously scored the 31! As he hit 3 from deep. There’s just no stopping these 3. And while the likes of Oliver and Co might try their best. At least 2 of the 3 should be good enough to bite the head of the Taipans right off it’s body. This is gonna be one hell of an encounter!

Betting tips- Pick the Hawks to win at $2.18 (bet365)

Also pick the Hawks to win the 2nd half at $2.04 (Unibet)

 

Friday, January 29

Perth Wildcats vs South East Melbourne Phoenix RAC Arena 7:30pm AEDT

Perth played and won their first game of the season in style during their last match against South East Melbourne. Playing at home, at RAC Arena, they won rather comfortably, 88-76. In Q4, they played some real clutch-ball, as they won that period 28-19, to close out the match in emphatic fashion! Bryce Cotton, the man, the myth, the legend, was of course the star of the show. He shot 53.3% from the court, en route to 27PTS. He also had 2REB, 7AS and a massive 5ST. Blanchfield also produced 16PTS, Mooney 13, Norton 10 and Jervis had 8 of the pine, as he shot a decent 50%. Blanchfield went 5/5 from the FT line, as he also got 4REB, 1AS, 1ST and 1BL. And Mooney was humungous and hungry throughout his Wildcats debut, as he also pulled in 15 boards and had 1 dime, 2ST and 1BL. Norton had 3REB and 3AS.

For the Phoenix, their last match was that 12-point loss in Perth. Going down in Q1, 23-17, didn’t exactly help them with their aspirations for the rest of the match. On the season, they now have 1W and 2L. Gibson was pretty big for them, coming of the pine. As he shot 5/8 from the floor, good for 13 total points. While he also had 5REB. And Adnam too was fairly influential, as he had 9PTS and a board. Of the starters Wetzell had 11REB. While Creek scored 17, Gliddon 15, Skyes 10 and Te Rangi 8. Creek also had 5REB and 1AS. Whilst Skyes had 4REB, 4AS and 2ST. And Gliddon went alright on his 2-point attempts. As he shot 75.0% from inside the arc.

Cotton vs Skyes is the PG battle that will, and I mean WILL decide the outcome of this game. Cotton is already on fire and it’s been just one game so far this season for Perth. While for Skyes, the former Korean League All-Star and G-League man has been on a tear this season for South East Melbourne. He’s torn it up for them along with Mitch Creek. He had 4 dimes against Perth. And prior to that, 24 points and 18. As he also showed against Adelaide on the 20^th of JAN, that he can hit the 3-ball quite well when he’s on. That as he went 4/7 for 57.1%. Cotton can obviously light it up from deep as well, as he converted 2 of his 4 beyond the arc attempts last game. This will be lit. This will be entertaining. And this individual positional battle will make or break this should-be thrilling encounter!

Betting tips- Pick Perth to win at $1.36 (bet365)

Also pick the Wildcats to reach 20 points first at $1.57 (bet365)

Best Bets of the Round

Pick the Kings to reach 20 points first against the Bullets at $1.85 (bet365)

Also pick Cairns to reach 20 points first against the Hawks at $1.10 or more when the odds become available

And pick Perth to win Q4 vs South East Melbourne at $1.75 (Sportsbet)